Everton will look to continue their impressive home form when they welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon, with manager Scott Phelan looking to build on a positive run of results.
The Toffees have won their last five home matches in all competitions and will be eager to extend that sequence against a Villa side arriving with renewed confidence following two victories this week.
Everton have enjoyed an encouraging spell, recording a positive result last weekend before following it up with another win in midweek cup action. Those performances have strengthened competition within the squad, giving the manager plenty to consider ahead of Sunday’s Women’s Super League encounter.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Scott Phelan highlighted the importance of maintaining that momentum while ensuring his side are fully prepared for a challenging opponent.
Injury News and Team Selection
Everton will assess several players ahead of Sunday’s match, with a number of knocks and bruises leaving their availability uncertain.
Phelan confirmed that the medical team were still evaluating members of the squad, meaning a final decision on selection would be made following the last training session before the game.
“There’s a couple of knocks and bruises that we’ve picked up over the last week or so,” he explained. “There’s no certainty in terms of whether they’re available or not.“
“We’re just going to have to see what the last training session brings tomorrow before we decide the final squad and team.”
The manager also acknowledged that the team’s recent cup performances had provided valuable opportunities for players seeking more minutes, with those displays potentially influencing his starting line-up against Villa.
The competition for places has been particularly encouraging, with Phelan pleased by the level of performance from those given opportunities in the cup.
“The fact that the performances in both games so far have been really good definitely brings an element of competition,” he said. “And that’s positive on the whole. It certainly brings food for thought for the weekend’s selection.”
Substitutes have also played an important role in recent results, providing an additional boost when introduced from the bench, and the Everton manager wants that contribution to continue as the demands of the fixture schedule increase.
He also emphasised that the players understand the importance of making an impact when given the opportunity, with strong performances helping them push for a starting place.
Goodison Park Becoming a Fortress
One of the biggest positives for Everton has been their form at Goodison Park, where they have won five consecutive matches in all competitions.
Phelan is keen for his side to make the most of playing at the historic stadium, believing home fixtures should provide them with a genuine advantage.
“It’s important to win games, but even more so at home,” he said. “We spoke a lot about Goodison and how happy we are to play there and call it our home, but it’s only good when you’re winning games there, and that’s something that we’ve managed to do recently.”
The manager also stressed that playing at Goodison should be something his players embrace rather than view as an additional source of pressure.
“Not everybody has the privilege of playing at a stadium like Goodison,” Phelan added. “We don’t see that as extra pressure. That’s something we want to try and enjoy and flourish under.”
The Toffees will hope that familiarity and confidence can once again work in their favour on Sunday as they attempt to make it six home victories in succession.
Aston Villa Arrive With Renewed Confidence
Villa will provide a difficult test, with their recent improvement making them a more confident opponent heading into the weekend.
Phelan acknowledged that their change of coach has brought a shift in momentum, with the visitors recording two wins this week ahead of their trip to Merseyside.
“It’s a more confident team,” he said. “They’ve obviously been in decent form since the change of coach.”
Everton have been studying the changes made by Villa’s coaching staff, confirming that his side have identified tactical adjustments they will need to counter.
“There are tweaks that he’s definitely made in the last few weeks,” Phelan explained. “That’s obviously our job to analyse and come up with a plan to try and nullify them.”
Despite the attention given to Villa’s recent developments, the Everton boss insisted that his side’s preparations have remained focused on their own performance rather than the circumstances surrounding their opponents.
The Toffees will need to be alert against a side that has begun to build confidence, but their recent results should ensure they approach the contest with belief.
Phelan expects both teams to arrive in positive spirits after their respective midweek successes, making Sunday’s encounter an intriguing test of which side can carry their momentum into the league.
Everton Looking to Improve in Attack
Although Everton have enjoyed encouraging results, there remains room for improvement in the final third.
The Toffees have conceded just six goals in the league this season but have scored five, highlighting the importance of turning their defensive solidity into greater attacking productivity.
Phelan acknowledged that his side could have been more effective going forward and confirmed that improving their attacking play has been a focus during training.
“We work on it a lot during the week, and I suppose that’s what it comes down to,” he said. “We want to keep working on all areas of our game.”
He added: “Our attacking play at times could have been a little bit more productive and maybe then the numbers would have looked a bit better.”
However, the manager is more concerned with ensuring Everton’s performances produce positive results than chasing goals for their own sake.
“The most important thing is whatever amount of goals we score in the game, it brings a positive result, and that’s been the case more often than not,” he explained.
Against Villa, the Toffees will hope to combine their defensive organisation with greater efficiency in front of goal, potentially giving them the edge in what could be a closely contested fixture.
Squad Competition Gives Extra Options
Everton’s recent cup matches have also helped strengthen the depth available, with players outside the regular starting line-up making a positive impression.
The manager believes creating a competitive environment is essential, particularly during a demanding period in which the team must balance league and cup commitments.
Phelan noted that his side have around ten games in five weeks, with an intense schedule over the coming period.
That workload makes the contribution of the wider squad particularly important, both in terms of maintaining performance levels and ensuring players are ready when opportunities arise.
The manager also praised the character and energy of Rosa Van Gool, highlighting her contribution both on and off the pitch as she continues to develop in the Women’s Super League.
Phelan described her as an engaging and energetic presence who brings quality to the team, while acknowledging that adapting to the physical demands of the WSL remains part of her development.
He was pleased with her application in training and the contribution she has made, expressing hope that she can make another positive impact against Villa.
What to Expect
Everton head into Sunday’s match with confidence built on their recent results and an impressive run at Goodison Park; however, Villa’s improved form means the hosts cannot afford to become complacent.
The Toffees will be looking to maintain their defensive strength while finding greater attacking fluency, with competition for places offering Phelan additional options as he finalises his team.
Although the home side are currently sixth in the league, the manager insisted that the focus remains on winning matches rather than becoming distracted by the table. He believes the coming run of fixtures will provide a clearer indication of where his side stand.
For now, the immediate objective is straightforward: secure another positive result and extend their winning run at Goodison.
With both teams arriving after encouraging results, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a competitive test, and Everton will hope home advantage can help them continue their upward momentum.
